Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India’s Foreign Trade: October 2018
India’s overall exports  in April-October 2018-19are estimated to be USD 308.32 Billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 17.17 per cent over the same period last year. Overall imports in April-October 2018-19are estimated to be USD 374.88 Billion, exhibiting a positive growth of 18.88 per cent over the same period last year.Note: Services data pertains to April-September 2018-19 as September 2018 is the latest data available as per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th November 2018. It is arrived at by adding Month-wise QE data of RBI’s press release for April to September 2018-19. This data is provisional and subject to revision by RBI. In addition, it may be noted that data for October 2018 is estimated and added to the April-September 2018-19 data of RBI to calculate the Overall Trade Deficit for April-October 2018-19. It will be revised based on RBI’s next press release for October 2018.
I. MERCHANDISE TRADE
EXPORTS 
Exports in October 2018 were US $ 26.98 Billion, as compared to US $ 22.89 Billion in October 2017, exhibiting a positive growth of 17.86 per cent. In Rupee terms, exports were Rs. 1,98,634.84 Crore in October 2018, as compared to Rs. 1,48,962.64 Crore in October 2017, registering a positive growth of 33.35 per cent.
In October 2018, major commodity groups of export showing positive growth over the corresponding month of last year are
Cumulative value of exports for the period April-October 2018-19 was US $ 191.01 Billion  as against US $ 168.64 Billion  during the period April-October 2017-18, registering a positive growth of 13.27 per cent in Dollar terms .
Non-petroleum and Non Gems and Jewellery exports in October 2018 were US $ 18.94 Billion, as compared to US $ 16.54 Billion in October 2017, exhibiting a positive growth of 14.54 per cent. Non-petroleum and Non Gems and Jewellery exports in April-October 2018-19 were US $ 137.98 Billion, as compared to US $ 124.45 Billion for the corresponding period in 2017-18, an increase of 10.88 %.
IMPORTS
Imports in October 2018 were US $ 44.11 Billion , which was 17.62 per cent higher in Dollar terms and 33.07 per cent higher in Rupee terms over imports of US $ 37.50 Billion  in October 2017. Cumulative value of imports for the period April-October 2018-19 was US $ 302.47 Billion , as against US $ 259.92 Billion  during the period April-October 2017-18, registering a positive growth of 16.37 per cent in Dollar terms .
Major commodity groups of import showing high growth in October 2018 over the corresponding month of last year are:
CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL IMPORTS:
Oil imports in October 2018 were US $ 14.21 Billion , which was 52.64 percent higher in Dollar terms , compared to US $ 9.31 Billion  in October 2017. Oil imports in April-October 2018-19 were US $ 83.94 Billion  which was 50.48 per cent higher in Dollar terms  compared to US $ 55.78 Billion , over the same period last year.
In this connection it is mentioned that the global Brent price  has increased by 39.66% in October 2018 vis-à-vis October 2017 as per data available from World Bank .
Non-oil imports in October 2018 were estimated at US $ 29.90 Billion  which was 6.05 per cent higher in Dollar terms , compared to US $ 28.19 Billion  in October 2017. Non-oil imports in April-October 2018-19 were US $ 218.53 Billion  which was 7.05 per cent higher in Dollar terms , compared to US $ 204.14 Billion  in April-October 2017-18.
Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports were US $ 28.21 billion in October 2018, recording a positive growth of 11.77 per cent, as compared to Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports in October 2017. Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports were US $ 199.21 billion in April-October 2018-19, recording a positive growth of 8.14 per cent, as compared to Non-Oil and Non-Gold imports in April-October 2017-18.
II. TRADE IN SERVICES 
EXPORTS 
Exports in September 2018 were US $ 16.38 Billion  registering a negative growth of 0.88 per cent in dollar terms, vis-à-vis August 2018. .
IMPORTS 
Imports in September 2018 were US $ 9.95 Billion  registering a negative growth of 3.94 per cent in dollar terms, vis-à-vis August 2018. .
III.TRADE BALANCE
MERCHANDISE: The trade deficit for October 2018 was estimated at US $ 17.13 Billion as against the deficit of US $ 14.61 Billion in October 2017.
SERVICES: As per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th November 2018, the trade balance in Services  for September, 2018 is estimated at US $ 6.44 Billion.
OVERALL TRADE BALANCE: Taking merchandise and services together, overall trade deficit for April-October 2018-19is estimated at US $ 66.57 Billion as compared to US $ 52.23 Billion in April-October 2017-18.Note: Services data pertains to April-September 2018-19 as September 2018 is the latest data available as per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th November 2018. It is arrived at by adding Month-wise QE data of RBI’s press release for April to September 2018-19. This data is provisional and subject to revision by RBI. In addition, it may be noted that data for October 2018 is estimated and added to the April-September 2018-19 data of RBI to calculate the Overall Trade Deficit for April-October 2018-19. It will be revised based on RBI’s next press release for October 2018.
MERCHANDISE TRADE
|
|
EXPORTS & IMPORTS: 
|
|

|
|
|
|
OCTOBER
|
|
APRIL- OCTOBER
|
|
EXPORTS 
|
||
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
22.89
|
|
168.64
|
|
2018-19
|
|
26.98
|
|
191.01
|
|
%Growth 2018-19/ 2017-18
|
|
17.86
|
|
13.27
|
|
IMPORTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
37.50
|
|
259.92
|
|
2018-19
|
|
44.11
|
|
302.47
|
|
%Growth 2018-19/ 2017-18
|
|
17.62
|
|
16.37
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
-14.61
|
|
-91.28
|
|
2018-19
|
|
-17.13
|
|
-111.46
|
|
EXPORTS & IMPORTS: 
|
|

|
|
|
|
OCTOBER
|
|
APRIL- OCTOBER
|
|
EXPORTS
|
||
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
1,48,962.64
|
|
10,87,270.47
|
|
2018-19
|
|
1,98,634.84
|
|
13,23,940.28
|
|
%Growth 2018-19/ 2017-18
|
|
33.35
|
|
21.77
|
|
IMPORTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
2,44,064.20
|
|
16,75,887.95
|
|
2018-19
|
|
3,24,774.78
|
|
20,97,058.41
|
|
%Growth 2018-19/ 2017-18
|
|
33.07
|
|
25.13
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
|
|
|
|
|
2017-18
|
|
-95,101.56
|
|
-5,88,617.48
|
|
2018-19
|
|
-1,26,139.94
|
|
-7,73,118.13
SERVICES TRADE
|
|
EXPORTS & IMPORTS  : 
|
|

|
|
SEPTEMBER 2018
|
|
APRIL- SEPTEMBER 2018-19
|
|
EXPORTS 
|
|
16.38
|
|
101.07
|
|
IMPORTS 
|
|
9.95
|
|
62.57
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
|
6.44
|
|
38.50
|
|
EXPORTS & IMPORTS : 
|
|

|
|
SEPTEMBER 2018
|
|
APRIL-SEPTEMBER 2018-19
|
|
EXPORTS 
|
|
1,18,295.88
|
|
6,92,694.98
|
|
IMPORTS 
|
|
71,825.34
|
|
4,28,772.48
|
|
TRADE BALANCE
|
|
46,470.55
|
|
2,63,922.50
Note: Services data pertains to April-September 2018-19 as September 2018 is the latest data available as per RBI’s Press Release dated 15th November 2018. April-September 2017-18 data is arrived at by adding Month-wise QE data. This has been used along with the estimate of service exports and imports for October 2018, as explained in page-1 for the purpose of this Press note.
QUICK ESTIMATES FOR SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES FOR OCTOBER 2018
TRADE: EXPORT
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Commodities
|
|

|
|
% change
|
|
OCT'17
|
|
OCT'18
|
|
OCT'18
|
|
1
|
|
Tea
|
|
463.71
|
|
573.48
|
|
23.67
|
|
2
|
|
Coffee
|
|
397.79
|
|
366.71
|
|
-7.81
|
|
3
|
|
Rice
|
|
3497.64
|
|
3324.93
|
|
-4.94
|
|
4
|
|
Other cereals
|
|
153.90
|
|
171.16
|
|
11.21
|
|
5
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
517.81
|
|
521.19
|
|
0.65
|
|
6
|
|
Spices
|
|
1458.08
|
|
1937.09
|
|
32.85
|
|
7
|
|
Cashew
|
|
531.23
|
|
353.67
|
|
-33.42
|
|
8
|
|
Oil Meals
|
|
426.31
|
|
583.62
|
|
36.90
|
|
9
|
|
Oil seeds
|
|
558.56
|
|
616.29
|
|
10.34
|
|
10
|
|
Fruits & Vegetables
|
|
1123.78
|
|
1668.77
|
|
48.50
|
|
11
|
|
Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items
|
|
689.26
|
|
982.85
|
|
42.60
|
|
12
|
|
Marine Products
|
|
4781.41
|
|
5076.23
|
|
6.17
|
|
13
|
|
Meat, dairy & poultry products
|
|
3038.96
|
|
2668.51
|
|
-12.19
|
|
14
|
|
Iron Ore
|
|
749.89
|
|
961.31
|
|
28.19
|
|
15
|
|
Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals
|
|
1597.25
|
|
2310.44
|
|
44.65
|
|
16
|
|
Leather & leather products
|
|
2403.78
|
|
3033.97
|
|
26.22
|
|
17
|
|
Ceramic products & glassware
|
|
979.37
|
|
1668.95
|
|
70.41
|
|
18
|
|
Gems & Jewellery
|
|
21539.59
|
|
25704.15
|
|
19.33
|
|
19
|
|
Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
|
|
8735.24
|
|
11151.23
|
|
27.66
|
|
20
|
|
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals
|
|
8995.36
|
|
13638.60
|
|
51.62
|
|
21
|
|
Engineering Goods
|
|
38103.67
|
|
46935.32
|
|
23.18
|
|
22
|
|
Electronic Goods
|
|
2968.44
|
|
5785.26
|
|
94.89
|
|
23
|
|
Cotton Yarn/Fabs./made-ups, Handloom Products etc.
|
|
5376.03
|
|
6704.34
|
|
24.71
|
|
24
|
|
Man-made Yarn/Fabs./made-ups etc.
|
|
2311.89
|
|
3037.27
|
|
31.38
|
|
25
|
|
RMG of all Textiles
|
|
5401.86
|
|
8327.42
|
|
54.16
|
|
26
|
|
Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering
|
|
150.65
|
|
192.19
|
|
27.58
|
|
27
|
|
Carpet
|
|
667.69
|
|
1013.21
|
|
51.75
|
|
28
|
|
Handicrafts excl. handmade carpet
|
|
870.47
|
|
1078.37
|
|
23.88
|
|
29
|
|
Petroleum Products
|
|
19807.05
|
|
33476.05
|
|
69.01
|
|
30
|
|
Plastic & Linoleum
|
|
3557.11
|
|
5306.76
|
|
49.19
|
||
|
Sub Total
|
|
141853.75
|
|
189169.34
|
|
33.36
|
||
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
148962.64
|
|
198634.84
|
|
33.35
Note 1: Grand total is inclusive of component ‘Other’.
Note 2: The figures for OCTOBER'18 and OCTOBER'17 are provisional and subject to change
QUICK ESTIMATES FOR SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES FOR OCTOBER 2018
TRADE: EXPORT
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Commodities
|
|

|
|
% change
|
|
OCT'17
|
|
OCT'18
|
|
OCT'18
|
|
1
|
|
Tea
|
|
71.25
|
|
77.88
|
|
9.31
|
|
2
|
|
Coffee
|
|
61.12
|
|
49.80
|
|
-18.52
|
|
3
|
|
Rice
|
|
537.43
|
|
451.56
|
|
-15.98
|
|
4
|
|
Other cereals
|
|
23.65
|
|
23.25
|
|
-1.69
|
|
5
|
|
Tobacco
|
|
79.56
|
|
70.78
|
|
-11.04
|
|
6
|
|
Spices
|
|
224.04
|
|
263.08
|
|
17.43
|
|
7
|
|
Cashew
|
|
81.63
|
|
48.03
|
|
-41.16
|
|
8
|
|
Oil Meals
|
|
65.50
|
|
79.26
|
|
21.01
|
|
9
|
|
Oil seeds
|
|
85.82
|
|
83.70
|
|
-2.47
|
|
10
|
|
Fruits & Vegetables
|
|
172.67
|
|
226.64
|
|
31.26
|
|
11
|
|
Cereal preparations & miscellaneous processed items
|
|
105.91
|
|
133.48
|
|
26.03
|
|
12
|
|
Marine Products
|
|
734.68
|
|
689.40
|
|
-6.16
|
|
13
|
|
Meat, dairy & poultry products
|
|
466.95
|
|
362.41
|
|
-22.39
|
|
14
|
|
Iron Ore
|
|
115.22
|
|
130.56
|
|
13.31
|
|
15
|
|
Mica, Coal & Other Ores, Minerals including processed minerals
|
|
245.42
|
|
313.78
|
|
27.85
|
|
16
|
|
Leather & leather products
|
|
369.35
|
|
412.04
|
|
11.56
|
|
17
|
|
Ceramic products & glassware
|
|
150.48
|
|
226.66
|
|
50.62
|
|
18
|
|
Gems & Jewellery
|
|
3309.64
|
|
3490.88
|
|
5.48
|
|
19
|
|
Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
|
|
1342.20
|
|
1514.45
|
|
12.83
|
|
20
|
|
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals
|
|
1382.17
|
|
1852.26
|
|
34.01
|
|
21
|
|
Engineering Goods
|
|
5854.78
|
|
6374.28
|
|
8.87
|
|
22
|
|
Electronic Goods
|
|
456.11
|
|
785.70
|
|
72.26
|
|
23
|
|
Cotton Yarn/Fabs./made-ups, Handloom Products etc.
|
|
826.05
|
|
910.52
|
|
10.23
|
|
24
|
|
Man-made Yarn/Fabs./made-ups etc.
|
|
355.23
|
|
412.49
|
|
16.12
|
|
25
|
|
RMG of all Textiles
|
|
830.02
|
|
1130.95
|
|
36.26
|
|
26
|
|
Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering
|
|
23.15
|
|
26.10
|
|
12.74
|
|
27
|
|
Carpet
|
|
102.59
|
|
137.60
|
|
34.13
|
|
28
|
|
Handicrafts excl. hand made carpet
|
|
133.75
|
|
146.45
|
|
9.50
|
|
29
|
|
Petroleum Products
|
|
3043.43
|
|
4546.38
|
|
49.38
|
|
30
|
|
Plastic & Linoleum
|
|
546.56
|
|
720.71
|
|
31.86
|
||
|
Sub Total
|
|
21796.36
|
|
25691.08
|
|
17.87
|
||
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
22888.70
|
|
26976.59
|
|
17.86
Note 1: Exports include Re-Exports.
Note 2: The figures for OCTOBER'18 and OCTOBER'17 are provisional and subject to change
Note 3: Grand total is inclusive of component ‘Other’.
QUICK ESTIMATES FOR SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES FOR OCTOBER 2018
TRADE: IMPORT
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Commodities
|
|

|
|
% change
|
|
OCT'17
|
|
OCT'18
|
|
OCT'18
|
|
1
|
|
Cotton Raw & Waste
|
|
206.39
|
|
258.30
|
|
25.15
|
|
2
|
|
Vegetable Oil
|
|
5504.91
|
|
5489.70
|
|
-0.28
|
|
3
|
|
Pulses
|
|
1548.97
|
|
827.63
|
|
-46.57
|
|
4
|
|
Fruits & vegetables
|
|
1353.13
|
|
1815.72
|
|
34.19
|
|
5
|
|
Pulp and Waste paper
|
|
713.21
|
|
842.99
|
|
18.20
|
|
6
|
|
Textile yarn Fabric, made-up articles
|
|
1002.06
|
|
1294.43
|
|
29.18
|
|
7
|
|
Fertilisers, Crude & manufactured
|
|
3823.55
|
|
3045.46
|
|
-20.35
|
|
8
|
|
Sulphur & Unroasted Iron Pyrites
|
|
45.20
|
|
72.62
|
|
60.65
|
|
9
|
|
Metalliferous ores & other minerals
|
|
5493.25
|
|
5185.99
|
|
-5.59
|
|
10
|
|
Coal, Coke & Briquettes, etc.
|
|
13136.31
|
|
16702.34
|
|
27.15
|
|
11
|
|
Petroleum, Crude & products
|
|
60586.10
|
|
104630.60
|
|
72.70
|
|
12
|
|
Wood & Wood products
|
|
3083.35
|
|
3757.37
|
|
21.86
|
|
13
|
|
Leather & leather products
|
|
514.48
|
|
634.70
|
|
23.37
|
|
14
|
|
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals
|
|
10957.85
|
|
15699.41
|
|
43.27
|
|
15
|
|
Dyeing/tanning/colouring mtrls.
|
|
1592.89
|
|
2170.46
|
|
36.26
|
|
16
|
|
Artificial resins, plastic materials, etc.
|
|
7344.29
|
|
9981.02
|
|
35.90
|
|
17
|
|
Chemical material & products
|
|
3332.28
|
|
5081.02
|
|
52.48
|
|
18
|
|
Newsprint
|
|
428.54
|
|
742.78
|
|
73.33
|
|
19
|
|
Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones
|
|
11620.05
|
|
13456.77
|
|
15.81
|
|
20
|
|
Iron & Steel
|
|
7276.74
|
|
10883.66
|
|
49.57
|
|
21
|
|
Non-ferrous metals
|
|
6652.17
|
|
9612.07
|
|
44.50
|
|
22
|
|
Machine tools
|
|
1703.72
|
|
3033.68
|
|
78.06
|
|
23
|
|
Machinery, electrical & non-electrical
|
|
17242.93
|
|
21937.41
|
|
27.23
|
|
24
|
|
Transport equipment
|
|
12323.38
|
|
10749.90
|
|
-12.77
|
|
25
|
|
Project goods
|
|
1635.55
|
|
1119.58
|
|
-31.55
|
|
26
|
|
Professional instrument, Optical goods, etc.
|
|
2520.12
|
|
3189.10
|
|
26.55
|
|
27
|
|
Electronic goods
|
|
25861.38
|
|
38606.09
|
|
49.28
|
|
28
|
|
Medicinal. & Pharmaceutical products
|
|
3125.57
|
|
3917.02
|
|
25.32
|
|
29
|
|
Gold
|
|
19201.20
|
|
12404.52
|
|
-35.40
|
|
30
|
|
Silver
|
|
2256.47
|
|
3874.55
|
|
71.71
|
||
|
Sub Total
|
|
232086.05
|
|
311016.89
|
|
34.01
|
||
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
244064.20
|
|
324774.78
|
|
33.07
Note 1: Grand total is inclusive of component ‘Other’.
Note 2: The figures for OCTOBER'18 and OCTOBER'17 are provisional and subject to change
QUICK ESTIMATES FOR SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES FOR OCTOBER 2018
TRADE: IMPORT
|
|
Sl. No.
|
|
Commodities
|
|

|
|
% change
|
|
OCT'17
|
|
OCT'18
|
|
OCT'18
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Cotton Raw & Waste
|
|
31.71
|
|
35.08
|
|
10.63
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
Vegetable Oil
|
|
845.85
|
|
745.56
|
|
-11.86
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
Pulses
|
|
238.01
|
|
112.40
|
|
-52.78
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
Fruits & vegetables
|
|
207.91
|
|
246.59
|
|
18.60
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
Pulp and Waste paper
|
|
109.59
|
|
114.49
|
|
4.47
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
Textile yarn Fabric, made-up articles
|
|
153.97
|
|
175.80
|
|
14.18
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
Fertilisers, Crude & manufactured
|
|
587.50
|
|
413.60
|
|
-29.60
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
Sulphur & Unroasted Iron Pyrites
|
|
6.95
|
|
9.86
|
|
41.87
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
Metalliferous ores & other minerals
|
|
844.06
|
|
704.31
|
|
-16.56
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
Coal, Coke & Briquettes, etc.
|
|
2018.45
|
|
2268.34
|
|
12.38
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
Petroleum, Crude & products
|
|
9309.30
|
|
14209.88
|
|
52.64
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
Wood & Wood products
|
|
473.77
|
|
510.29
|
|
7.71
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
Leather & leather products
|
|
79.05
|
|
86.20
|
|
9.04
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
Organic & Inorganic Chemicals
|
|
1683.72
|
|
2132.14
|
|
26.63
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
Dyeing/tanning/colouring mtrls.
|
|
244.75
|
|
294.77
|
|
20.44
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
Artificial resins, plastic materials, etc.
|
|
1128.48
|
|
1355.52
|
|
20.12
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
Chemical material & products
|
|
512.02
|
|
690.05
|
|
34.77
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
Newsprint
|
|
65.85
|
|
100.88
|
|
53.20
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
Pearls, precious & Semi-precious stones
|
|
1785.47
|
|
1827.56
|
|
2.36
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
Iron & Steel
|
|
1118.10
|
|
1478.11
|
|
32.20
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
Non-ferrous metals
|
|
1022.13
|
|
1305.41
|
|
27.71
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
Machine tools
|
|
261.78
|
|
412.00
|
|
57.38
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
Machinery, electrical & non-electrical
|
|
2649.44
|
|
2979.32
|
|
12.45
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
Transport equipment
|
|
1893.54
|
|
1459.94
|
|
-22.90
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
Project goods
|
|
251.31
|
|
152.05
|
|
-39.50
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
Professional instrument, Optical goods, etc.
|
|
387.23
|
|
433.11
|
|
11.85
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
Electronic goods
|
|
3973.70
|
|
5243.09
|
|
31.94
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Medicinal. & Pharmaceutical products
|
|
480.26
|
|
531.97
|
|
10.77
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
Gold
|
|
2950.34
|
|
1684.66
|
|
-42.90
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
Silver
|
|
346.72
|
|
526.20
|
|
51.77
|
|
|
||
|
Sub Total
|
|
35660.96
|
|
42239.18
|
|
18.45
|
|
|
||
|
GRAND TOTAL
|
|
37501.43
|
|
44107.65
|
|
17.62
|
|
|
||
||
||
||
||
||
|
Note 1: Imports include Re-Imports.
Note 2: The figures for OCTOBER'18 and OCTOBER'17 are provisional and subject to change.
Note 3: Grand total is inclusive of component ‘Other’.